13 is a Lucky Number for Duck Pluckers

A Record $203,000 Raised for Ambulance in 13^th Annual Event

Thirteen isn’t normally thought of as a lucky number, but that wasn’t the case at the 13^th Duck Pluckers, Deer Skinners & Fish Hookers Ball on Sept. 10. The event was flooded with generosity by the community. The Alton Memorial Hospital Services Foundation easily set a record with $203,000 raised – at least 50 percent more than any other year.

More than 350 people attended and enjoyed an outstanding steak dinner served up by the Morrison’s Food and Nutrition staff from AMH, followed by a fast-paced live auction with auctioneer Mark Harmon, and danced to the music of the Glendale Riders.

The signature activity of the event is the Homer Clark Quail Flush competition. It pays tribute to Homer Clark, Sr. and Homer Clark, Jr., both of Alton, who are in the Trapshooting Hall of Fame. This year’s winners were Allen and Bryan Morse. Guests also participated in other fun contests, including best dressed sponsored by Brush Boutique, and axe throwing courtesy of Riverbend Axe Throwing and Eric Schrumpf State Farm Insurance.

The online auction, held this year for the second time, raised close to $8,300. People not in attendance at the event also had an opportunity to bid on those items.

“It’s hard to find the right word or words to describe the way our community came out to this year’s event,” said AMH President Dave Braasch. “Amazing, phenomenal, heart-warming, thankful are just a few words. When you live and/or work in a community like this that gives it all for others, you have to be grateful and proud. On behalf of Alton Memorial and our EMS teams, I appreciate and thank everyone for their overwhelming support.”

“We saw an increase in the number of local businesses who sponsored this year’s event, which put us on record pace, and we never looked back,” said Kristen Ryrie, manager of Alton Memorial Health Services Foundation. “Their support of our first responders and emergency medical care was needed more than ever because we have two ambulances with more than 380,000 miles. We are humbled by their generosity and will be able to replace one of those trucks because of them.”

Each year, the Duck Pluckers Ball raises funds for a new ambulance equipped with $125,000 worth of life-saving equipment, such as automated CPR machines, Glidescopes for patients in respiratory distress, Zoll cardiac monitors. Alton Memorial has the only hospital-based ambulance service in the area and serves Madison, Jersey, and Macoupin counties.